The hotel I stayed at for two nights during my trip to Takamatsu was Hotel AreaOne Takamatsu City (ホテルエリアワン高松シティ). The closest station is Kotoden Kataharamachi, and since it was near the places I planned to visit, like Honetsukidori Ikkaku and Tsurumaru, I chose this hotel. It’s also about a 15-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station, making it very convenient. I had the impression that Hotel AreaOne was a nationwide business hotel chain, so I thought it would be a good fit for a trip centered around eating udon. However, it turned out to be a surprisingly quirky hotel.
To reach the floor where the front desk is located, you need to take this staircase. There is an elevator, but taking the stairs is faster. It’s located behind the back of Mitsukoshi department store.
After going up the stairs and entering through the entrance, the lobby is on the left. Since it was December, cold air rushed in whenever the entrance door opened, making it quite chilly, so there was never anyone in the lobby. The front desk is located directly in front of the entrance. It is a small but neatly organized front desk typical of a business hotel. There is also a microwave here.
You can also enjoy free coffee.
Overall, the hotel seems to be designed with a “cute” aesthetic targeting female guests. This is the amenity corner, offering coffee, tea, cotton swabs, hair ties, and even candies.
I stayed in a single room. In reality, the lighting was a bit dimmer than in the photo, so I didn’t notice at first, but the wallpaper had a lace pattern. At this point, I still thought I was staying in a simple, standard room.
I was surprised when I opened the door—the wallpaper had a floral pattern! It looked like the room had been remodeled into a more feminine style. The interior had a bit of a Korean aesthetic. It was cute, but since I had booked a standard plan, I was quite surprised.
It seems there are also rooms with plain wallpaper (maybe more common?), but since I was staying alone as a female guest, I think they assigned me this room.
ハンガーは入口にありました。その他加湿空気清浄機、テレビ、冷蔵庫、ケトル、Wifi、エアコンとひととおりホテルの装備は備えています。ぶっ飛んでるのは壁紙だけですね。
The bathroom was compact, as expected of a business hotel. The bathtub was a bit on the smaller side, but it was clean and well-maintained. Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap were provided in large refillable bottles. The water pressure was strong enough, making for a comfortable shower experience.
Oh, I brought the coffee from the front desk.
If you decline room cleaning from the second night onward, you will receive a pack containing pajamas, towels, and amenities.
One more thing that really impressed me was the welcome bar. It’s available for just three hours, from 6 PM to 9 PM, but during that time, you can enjoy unlimited drinks from the shelf. There were also some light snacks (sweets).
While they didn’t have beer, they did offer a selection of whiskey and liqueurs, along with orange juice and cola, so you could mix up classic long cocktails.
I tried making an extra-strong El Diablo using a recipe as a reference. With travel magazines and power outlets available, I used this space to relax and plan my schedule for the next day. Hardly anyone else was using it during my stay, so being stationed here the whole time made me feel like a total boozehound :p.
…And so, I made an early exit. Of course, you can take your drink back to your room as well… This alone is enough reason to make this my go-to hotel for future stays in Takamatsu. I really hope they continue this bar time (I’ll definitely be back!).
The hotel offers a breakfast service, but I didn’t use it since my goal was to eat udon in the morning. However, I checked the menu and it seemed to be a simple Japanese and Western buffet. There was also free bread and coffee available for guests who didn’t opt for breakfast.
Hotel AreaOne Takamatsu City was a unique and quirky business hotel with a feminine touch. While it had the convenience and affordability expected of a chain hotel, the decor and amenities made it stand out. The location was excellent for exploring Takamatsu and trying out local foods. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced hotel with a bit of personality, this might be a good choice!
About
Name Hotel Areaone Takamatsu City (ホテルエリアワン高松シティ)
Booking Agoda.com
URL Website
Google Map
